Nuptials honor couple’s Vietnamese, Catholic heritage

By Jennifer Gentile

At the end of a rose petal-strewn path, Linh Nguyen Bui’s future was waiting.

The evening of March 18, 2018, already had promised to be special. Linh and her boyfriend, Kevin Cuong Bui, were meeting their parents for dinner at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. When they arrived, Kevin left and asked her to wait for him in the lobby — where his mom came for her a few minutes later.

“As I walked outside to this gorgeous courtyard, I saw a rose-petal path that lead to Kevin waiting by a bridge,” Linh recalls. “The courtyard was filled with balloons, bubbles, lanterns (and) candles, and the song ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri was playing in the background. I was astonished and completely caught by surprise.”

He pointed to the rooftop, where the couple’s family and friends were holding a banner that read, “Will you marry me?” With tears obscuring her vision, Linh says, she didn’t even see what her ring looked like.

“I will never forget our proposal day because it was truly the best day of my life, knowing I would be marrying the sweetest man with the most amazing soul,” she says. “I feel incredibly lucky.”

Since meeting in August of 2012 at the University of Mississippi, the pair have become best friends, Linh says — supporting one another unconditionally. Although they appear to be very different, Linh and her husband have much in common — including similar tastes in food, music and hobbies.

“We are some of the goofiest people you’ll know; we just enjoy being silly and live life to the fullest,” she says. “On our road last trip, we learned the lyrics to some of our favorite rap songs!”

 

When they married on July 27, 2019, the pair was intent on paying homage to their Vietnamese and Catholic background. They held the ceremony at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral, in Kevin’s hometown of Biloxi, and the Rev. Anthony Quyet Nguyen conducted mass in English and Vietnamese.

       

“It was truly a magical moment to be able to share our love with everyone …,” Linh says. “(Our wedding) was very sentimental, romantic, glamourous and elegant.”

The couple honeymooned in Cancun, Mexico, and now live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Kevin is a neurology resident and Linh is an optometry student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Linh says her spouse inspires her every day with his motivation and work ethic, as well as his selflessness.

“Kevin’s love for me is just indescribable,” she adds. “It was something I thought never existed.”

 

---

VENDORS:

Photographer: Bluewaters Photography

Wedding planner: Suzie Bui and MyLien Nguyen

Ceremony venue: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral

Reception venue: Slavonion Lodge

Florist: Vy Kim

Caterer: Dong Phuong

Makeup: Azalea Spa & Salon

Hair: Azalea Spa & Salon

Videographer: Casey Clingan

Jewelry: Kim-Tam Jewelry, Adiamor Jewelry,

Diamonds Direct, and Cezanne

Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Wedding gown: Bridal Path – Allure Bridal

Tux: Men’s Wearhouse – Kenneth Cole

Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie

Musician/Entertainment: NightShift Sounds Entertainment

Photobooth: Evnogevents

Clergy/Officiant: The Rev. Anthony Quyet Nguyen

Rentals: ABC Rental Center/ Southern Event Productions

Cake: Fleur De Lis Gourmet Bakery

Transportation: King Limousine

Invitations: Shutterfly

Lighting: NightShift Sounds Entertainment